The was the
cabinetA Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or Executive Committee.- Overview :...
-level ministry from 1872-1945 in charge with administration of the
Imperial Japanese NavyThe Imperial Japanese Navy , literally Navy of the Empire of Greater Japan was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
(IJN).
The Navy Ministry was created in April 1872, along with the Army Ministry, to replace the Ministry of Military Affairs (
Hyōbushō) of the early Meiji government.
Initially, the Navy Ministry was in charge of both administration and operational command of the Imperial Japanese Navy; however, with the creation of the
Imperial Japanese Navy General StaffThe was the highest organ within the Imperial Japanese Navy. In charge of planning and operations, it was headed by an Admiral headquartered in Tokyo.-History:...
in May 1893, it was left with only administrative functions.
"The ministry was responsible for the naval budget, ship construction, weapons procurement, personnel, relations with the Diet and the cabinet and broad matters of naval policy.
The was the
cabinetA Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or Executive Committee.- Overview :...
-level ministry from 1872-1945 in charge with administration of the
Imperial Japanese NavyThe Imperial Japanese Navy , literally Navy of the Empire of Greater Japan was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
(IJN).
History
The Navy Ministry was created in April 1872, along with the Army Ministry, to replace the Ministry of Military Affairs (
Hyōbushō) of the early Meiji government.
Initially, the Navy Ministry was in charge of both administration and operational command of the Imperial Japanese Navy; however, with the creation of the
Imperial Japanese Navy General StaffThe was the highest organ within the Imperial Japanese Navy. In charge of planning and operations, it was headed by an Admiral headquartered in Tokyo.-History:...
in May 1893, it was left with only administrative functions.
"The ministry was responsible for the naval budget, ship construction, weapons procurement, personnel, relations with the Diet and the cabinet and broad matters of naval policy. The General Staff directed the operations of the fleet and the preparation of war plans" .
Up until the 1920s, the Navy Ministry held the upper hand over the Navy General Staff in terms of political influence. However, the officers of the Navy General Staff found an opportunity at the
Washington Naval ConferenceThe Washington Naval Conference also called the Washington Arms Conference, was a military conference called by the administration of President Warren G. Harding and held in Washington, D.C. from 12 November 1921 to 6 February 1922. Conducted outside the auspices of the League of Nations, it was...
in 1921-22 to improve their situation. At this meeting, the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and
BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
wanted to establish a worldwide naval ratio, asking the Japanese to limit themselves to a smaller navy than the Western powers. The Naval Ministry was willing to agree to this, seeking to maintain the
Anglo-Japanese AllianceThe first was signed in London at what is now the , on January 30 1902, by Lord Lansdowne and Hayashi Tadasu . A diplomatic milestone for its ending of Britain's splendid isolation, the alliance was renewed and extended in scope twice, in 1905 and 1911, before its demise in 1921...
, but the Navy General Staff refused. The Imperial Japanese Navy became divided into mutually hostile
Fleet FactionThe was an unofficial and informal political faction within the Imperial Japanese Navy in the 1920s-1930s of officers opposed to the conditions imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty.-Background:...
and
Treaty FactionThe was an unofficial and informal political faction within the Imperial Japanese Navy in the 1920s-1930s of officers supporting the Washington Naval Treaty.-Background:...
political cliques. Ultimately, the treaty was signed by Japan, but terminated in 1934. Through the 1930s, with increasing
Japanese militarismrefers to the ideology in the Empire of Japan that militarism should dominate the political and social life of the nation, and that the strength of the military is equal to the strength of a nation.- The rise of militarism :...
, the Fleet faction gradually gained ascendancy over the Treaty Faction, and dominating the Navy General Staff pushed through the
attack on Pearl HarborThe attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Japanese navy against the United States' naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941 , later resulting in the United...
against the wishes of the more diplomatic Navy Ministry.
After 1937, both the Navy Minister and the Chief of the Navy General Staff were members of the
Imperial General HeadquartersThe as part of the Supreme War Council was established in 1893 to coordinate efforts between the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy during wartime...
.
With the defeat of the
Empire of JapanThe Empire of Japan was a Japanese political entity that existed during the period from the...
in
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Navy Ministry was abolished together with the Imperial Japanese Navy by the
American occupation authoritiesSupreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
in November 1945 and was not revived in the post-war Constitution of Japan.
Internally Operating Divisions
- Military Affairs Bureau
- Mobilization Bureau
- Technical Bureau
- Personnel Bureau
- Training Bureau
- Medical Bureau
- Shipyard Bureau
- Naval Construction Bureau
- Legal Bureau
- Administrative/Accounting Bureau
Externally Operating Divisions
- Navy Aviation Bureau
The Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of the Navy of Japan was responsible for the development and training of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service...
- Navy Academy
- Naval War College (Japan)
The was the staff college of the Imperial Japanese Navy, responsible for training officers for command positions either on warships, or in staff roles....
- Naval Accounting School
- Navy Medical School
- Naval Engineering School
- Submarine Division
- Canals and Waterways Division
- Naval Technical Department
The was the externally operating division of the Ministry of the Navy of Japan responsible for the administration of naval vessel construction. From 1923 onward, it took on the role of a research institution for the research and development of naval technologies and engineering...
- Naval Tribunal
- Tokyo Naval Tribunal
- Chemical Warfare Division
- Radio and Radar Division
- Supply and Transport Bureau
- Naval Construction Division
- Naval Maintenance & Repair Division
- Special Attack Weapons Division
- Emergency Reaction Division
- Naval Aviation Training Division
- Naval Intelligence Division
Ministers of the Navy of Japan
By law, Navy Ministers had to be appointed from active duty
admiralAdmiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above Vice Admiral and below Admiral of the Fleet/Fleet Admiral. It is usually abbreviated to "Adm." or "ADM"...
s or vice-admirals. Their primary function was to provide communications and liaison between the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff, the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Cabinet and the
Diet of JapanThe is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
.
Naval Lords under the Ministry of Military Affairs
- Katsu Kaishu
was a Japanese naval officer and statesman during the Late Tokugawa shogunate and the Meiji period. Kaishū was a nickname which he took from a piece of calligraphy by Sakuma Shōzan. He went through a series of given names throughout his life; his childhood name was and his real name was...
- Kawamura Sumiyoshi
Count , was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Kawamura's wife Haru was the aunt of Saigō Takamori.- Biography :A native of Satsuma, Kawamura studied navigation at Tokugawa bakufu naval school at Nagasaki. In 1868, he joined his Satsuma clansmen, and fought on the imperial side in the Boshin...
- Enomoto Takeaki
Viscount was a Japanese Navy admiral faithful to the Tokugawa Shogunate who fought against the new Meiji government until the end of the Boshin War, but later served in the government as one of the founders of the Imperial Japanese Navy.-Early life:...
- Nakamuta Kuranosuke
Viscount was an admiral in the early Imperial Japanese Navy.-Biography:Nakamuta was born in Saga domain . He was a samurai-sailor in the domainal navy, which later became the core of the fledgling Imperial Japanese Navy. During the Boshin War to overthrow the Tokugawa bakufu, Nakamuta was captain...
- Kabayama Sukenori
Count was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. He later became the first Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan during the island's period as a Japanese colony...
Naval Minister under the Meiji ConstitutionThe ', more commonly known as the Imperial or Meiji Constitution, was the fundamental law of the Empire of Japan from 29 November 1890 until 2 May 1947...
| |
Date |
Name |
|
| 1 |
July 1885-July 1886 |
Saigo Tsugumichi Marquis was a Meiji-period politician and career military officer.-Early life:Saigō was born in Shimokajichō, Kagoshima, the son of the samurai Saigō Kichibe of the Satsuma domain. His siblings included his famous older brother Saigō Takamori. Saigō changed his name many times throughout his life...
|
| 2 |
July 1886 – July 1887 |
Oyama Iwaowas a Japanese field marshal, and one of the founders of the Imperial Japanese Army.-Early life:Ōyama was born in Kagoshima to a samurai family of the Satsuma han domain. A protegé of Ōkubo Toshimichi, he worked to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate and thus played a major role in the Meiji...
|
| 3 |
July 1887 – May 1890 |
Saigo Tsugumichi Marquis was a Meiji-period politician and career military officer.-Early life:Saigō was born in Shimokajichō, Kagoshima, the son of the samurai Saigō Kichibe of the Satsuma domain. His siblings included his famous older brother Saigō Takamori. Saigō changed his name many times throughout his life...
|
| 4 |
May 1890 – Aug 1892 |
Kabayama SukenoriCount was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. He later became the first Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan during the island's period as a Japanese colony...
|
| 5 |
Aug 1892 – Mar 1893 |
Nire Kagenori Viscount was an admiral in the early Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as Navy Minister in the late 19th century.-Biography:Nire was born in Kagoshima, Satsuma domain, what is now Kagoshima Prefecture to a samurai family. As a samurai youth, he particiated in the Anglo-Satsuma War. In 1867, by...
|
| 6 |
Mar 1893 – Nov 1898 |
Saigo Tsugumichi Marquis was a Meiji-period politician and career military officer.-Early life:Saigō was born in Shimokajichō, Kagoshima, the son of the samurai Saigō Kichibe of the Satsuma domain. His siblings included his famous older brother Saigō Takamori. Saigō changed his name many times throughout his life...
|
| 7 |
Nov 1898 - Jan 1906 |
Yamamoto Gonnohyōe, also called Gonnohyōe, was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and the 16th and 22nd Prime Minister of Japan.-Early life:...
|
| 8 |
Jan 1906 - Apr 1914 |
Saitō MakotoViscount was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, two-time Governor-General of Korea from 1919 to 1927 and from 1929 to 1931, and the 30th Prime Minister of Japan from May 26, 1932 to 8 July 8, 1934.-Early life:...
|
| 9 |
Apr 1914 - Aug 1915 |
Yashiro Rokurō Baron was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and Navy Minister, succeeding the last of the Satsuma-era naval leaders of the early Meiji period.-Biography:...
|
| 10 |
Aug 1915 - Oct 1921 |
Katō TomosaburōViscount was a career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy and the 21st Prime Minister of Japan from 12 June 1922 to 24 August 1923.-Biography:Born in Hiroshima, Aki Province to a samurai family, Katō enrolled in the 7th class Imperial Japanese Naval Academy and graduated second out of a class...
|
| 11 |
Oct 1921 - Nov 1921 |
Hara Kei (Acting Minister) |
| 12 |
Nov 1921 |
Uchida Kosai |
| 13 |
Nov 1921 - Mar 1922 |
Takahashi KorekiyoViscount , was a Japanese politician and the 20th Prime Minister of Japan from 13 November 1921 to 12 June 1922...
(Acting Minister) |
| 14 |
Mar 1922 - May 1923 |
Katō TomosaburōViscount was a career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy and the 21st Prime Minister of Japan from 12 June 1922 to 24 August 1923.-Biography:Born in Hiroshima, Aki Province to a samurai family, Katō enrolled in the 7th class Imperial Japanese Naval Academy and graduated second out of a class...
|
| 15 |
May 1923 - Jan 1924 |
Takarabe Takeshiwas an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as Navy Minister in the 1920s. He was also the son-in-law of Yamamoto Gonnohyōe.-Biography:...
|
| 16 |
Jan 1924 - Jun 1924 |
Murakami Kakuichi was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as Navy Minister in the early 1920s.-Biography:Murakami was born in Saga Prefecture as the eldest son to a samurai of Saga Domain. He moved to Ibaraki prefecture when his father was appointed an official under the new Meiji government and...
|
| 17 |
Jun 1924 - Apr 1927 |
Takarabe Takeshiwas an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as Navy Minister in the 1920s. He was also the son-in-law of Yamamoto Gonnohyōe.-Biography:...
|
| 18 |
Apr 1927 - Jul 1929 |
Okada Keisuke |
| 19 |
Jul 1929 - Nov 1929 |
Takarabe Takeshiwas an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as Navy Minister in the 1920s. He was also the son-in-law of Yamamoto Gonnohyōe.-Biography:...
|
| 20 |
Nov 1929 - May 1930 |
Hamaguchi Osachiwas a Japanese politician and the 27th Prime Minister of Japan from 2 July 1929 to 14 April 1931. He was called the "Lion prime minister" due to his physical features.- Early life :...
(Acting Minister) |
| 21 |
May 1930 - Oct 1930 |
Takarabe Takeshiwas an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as Navy Minister in the 1920s. He was also the son-in-law of Yamamoto Gonnohyōe.-Biography:...
|
| 22 |
Oct 1930 - Dec 1931 |
Abo Kiyokazu |
| 23 |
Dec 1931 - May 1932 |
Osumi Mineo |
| 24 |
May 1932 - Jan 1933 |
Okada Keisuke |
| 25 |
Jan 1933 - Mar 1936 |
Osumi Mineo |
| 26 |
Mar 1936 - Feb 1937 |
Nagano Osami |
| 27 |
Feb 1937 - Aug 1939 |
Yonai Mitsumasa |
| 28 |
Aug 1939 - Sep 1940 |
Yoshida Zengo was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy.-Biography:Yoshida was born into an impoverished farming family in Saga prefecture in 1885, and was adopted into the family of a local rice merchant. He was a graduate of the 32nd class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1904, ranking 12th out of...
|
| 29 |
Sep 1940 - Oct 1941 |
Oikawa Koshirō |
| 30 |
Oct 1941 - Jul 1944 |
Shimada Shigetarōwas an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He also served as Navy Minister-Biography:A native of Tokyo, Shimada graduated from the 32nd class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1904...
|
| 31 |
Jul 1944 |
Nomura Naokuni |
| 32 |
Jul 1944 - Dec 1945 |
Yonai Mitsumasa |
External links